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Report: SMU Targeting SLU Coach Rick Majerus

Saint Louis University Billikens head coach Rick Majerus takes to the court for the team’s home opener against the Tennessee State Tigers at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on November 11, 2011. UPI/BIll Greenblatt

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) — Saint Louis University men’s basketball head coach Rick Majerus has reportedly become the next interest to become the next head coach at Southern Methodist University. Since firing head coach Matt Doherty after six seasons on March 13, the Mustangs have aggressively been looking for a coach before the school jumps to the Big East in 2013.

According to CBS college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, SMU athletic director Steve Orsini has targeted the 64-year-old SLU coach, who took the Billikens to their first NCAA Tournament since 2000 this past season. After upsetting the favorite Memphis Tigers 61-54 in the second round, Majerus and the Billikens were knocked out in the next round by the West Region top seed Michigan State Spartans in a tight 65-61 game.

Majerus became the twenty-fourth head coach for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball program back on April 27, 2007. His current six-year contract is due to expire following what’s become a highly anticipated 2012-13 season.

The Billikens, who finished 26-8 overall and 12-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, lost only forward Brian Conklin and guard Kyle Cassity to graduation. Four starters plus eight other players should return along with any recruits or transfers.

Last season under Doherty, the SMU Mustangs were 13-19 overall while finishing second-to-last in the Conference USA with a 4-12 record. Southern Methodist has not made the tournament since 1993.